Richmond Hill strikes deal to keep, preserve more than half of David Dunlap Observatory property

After a drawn-out, difficult half-year negotiation process, Richmond Hill council approved a tentative agreement that will see up to 60% of the historic David Dunlap Observatory Lands returned to the town and protected as heritage landscape.

The decision is the culmination of a bitter dispute between developers and concerned residents seeking to preserve the 189-acre lands from sprawling development.

The town council voted 9-0 to ratify the Ontario Municipal Board-mediated settlement after a near four-hour in-camera discussion on Thursday.

A donation to the University of Toronto in the 1930s, the observatory — located northwest of the intersection of Bayview and 16th avenues — opened in 1935 to become a centre for astronomical research in Canada.

The fate of the green space surrounding the landmark white-domed buildings of the 77-year-old observatory was up in the air since the university sold the property to developer Metrus in 2007. The transaction incited public protest over key heritage features, such as a century-old farmstead and the country’s largest optical telescope — through which the first mass black hole was sighted.

Metrus requested OMB mediation last September after the town rejected its plan to bulldoze an old forest to construct a 833-unit subdivision on the land.

The municipality designated most of the Dunlop lands as cultural heritage landscape under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2009. While that did not prohibit development on the site, it gave the town some measure of control over the process.

The community group David Dunlap Observatory Defenders’ chair Karen Cilevitz was “absolutely thrilled” following the negotiations, kept under a strict gag order until now.

“We have striven to keep in line with the philanthropist Jessie Dunlop’s vision [the original purchaser of the lands] for the property. Our mandate was to save 100% of the property, and we regret that we couldn’t secure 100%.”

Ms. Cilevitz emphasized that it became clear early on during the negotiations that concessions would have to be made.

“I cannot tell you how relieved I am to have a saved a bulk of these lands — the family feels like their legacy has been reclaimed.”

Her community group was one of five players in the negotiations, including the town, Corsica Development Inc., a subsidiary of Metrus, York Region, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

“We have made tremendous gains from the original application of a 75% for development and 25% for protection split,” said Mayor Barrow.

He added that the town has been unsuccessfully trying to court provincial and federal interest in the property.

“If we have regrets, it is that we should have tried harder to convince the province and University of Toronto to avoid selling it in the first place.

The settlement also stipulates Corsica dole out $1.9-million for the regeneration and enhancement of all wooded areas, including buffers to preserve telescope functionality and the natural character of the area.

Future development of the 40 per cent of land in Corsica’s possession will be restricted to the north and eastern portions of the property.

A preliminary estimate of 530 housing units are expected on the site’s eastern half along Bayview Avenue.

Discussions of transferring ownership to the town continue, with the land transfer details on hold until the settlement is ratified by the Region of York and TRCA.

OMB hearing participants CN Rail, Richmond Hill Naturalists, and the Observatory Hill Home Owners Association can object to the settlement.